War God Long Ao

An invitation from the Mu Family?

Long Yi and Mu Lin were no fools. They knew exactly why the Mu Family had invited them at a time like this and sighed. 'It came so fast.'

"Ao'Er, you shouldn't go this time."

Long Ao knew his parents were worried he would be at a disadvantage if he went. But a man had to take responsibility for his own actions. He couldn't let his parents bear the consequences of the trouble he had caused.

"I must go."

They both knew their son's personality well, so they didn't try too hard to stop him. After making the necessary arrangements, the three of them left the Long Family and headed for Mu Lin's maternal home—the Mu Family.

The Mu Family was one of the four great powers in Thundercloud City, jointly ruling the city alongside the City Lord's Mansion, the Sixth Level Long Family, and the Duanmu Family.

The moment the three of them set foot in the Mu Family estate, Mu Lin was called away by the family's Patriarch—her mother, Mu Wanfeng. Legend had it that ever since her husband's death, Mu Wanfeng had single-handedly propped up the entire Mu Family. Far from declining, the family had thrived under her leadership. It was even rumored that she had long since become an Innate Martial Artist.

Long Yi and his son, Long Ao, entered the main hall, which was already filled with people. In the seats of honor were Mu Lin's two older brothers—Long Ao's uncles, Mu Che and Mu Tian. One was an Innate Martial Artist, the other an Inner Strength Tenth Heaven Martial Artist.

Seated below them were Mu Feng, Mu Yong, Mu Yihang, Mu Yihao, Mu Yiyang, Mu Wan'Er, and Mu Chenglin. Mu Yihao and Mu Yihang, in particular, had cold, grim expressions. They glared at Long Ao, looking as if they wanted to pounce on him and tear him to pieces.

"Ao'Er, these are your two uncles. Go on and greet them."

"Uncle..."

"That won't be necessary. How could I possibly be worthy of such a remarkable nephew?"

Long Ao had only spoken a single word. Hearing Mu Che's retort, he swallowed what he was about to say next. "Father," he said, "if they don't care for the courtesy, we don't need to force it."

"Xiaolin's son is certainly arrogant. This is the first time I've met you. Impressive, very impressive."

Mu Tian, Mu Lin's second older brother and Long Ao's second uncle, spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Suddenly, his tone turned icy. "Long Ao, I hear you bullied Yihang and Yihao in broad daylight. Is that true?"

Long Ao had been expecting them to call him to account.

"May I ask, who did you hear this from?"

"You don't need to ask that. You just need to tell me, yes or no?"

"What if I did? And what if I didn't? You're all one family, so you'll say you're right no matter what. That being the case, why should I waste my breath?"

"Ao'Er, don't be ridiculous."

Although Long Yi was also angry about the Mu Family's behavior, he was more pragmatic than Long Ao. If they provoked the Mu Family, life for the Long Family in Thundercloud City would become nearly impossible.

"This is all just bickering between children. There's no need to make such a big fuss about it."

"Long Yi, are you saying you're going to side with your son?"

Long Ao grabbed his father's arm, his own voice turning cold. "What is it that you want?"

Mu Tian snorted. His sons had been beaten, so of course he wasn't going to let the matter drop. "Long Ao," he said coldly, "we won't take advantage of you. But since you're so arrogant, I'll give you a chance. If you can defeat these two nephews of mine, we'll consider today's matter settled."

"Mu Feng, Mu Yong, you two have a good spar with your cousin. Go a little easy on him."

Mu Feng and Mu Yong were blood brothers, the two sons of Mu Che. They were considered top-tier geniuses in the Mu Family, as both had already reached the Inner Strength Tenth Heaven Realm. When they fought together, they were unstoppable, unless they came up against an Innate Martial Artist.

Seeing this situation, Long Yi understood what the Mu Family wanted. He immediately said anxiously, "This seems a bit too unfair."

"Fair? What's fair? Long Yi, let me tell you something. Fairness is defined by the strong, and your Long Family doesn't qualify. I'm giving your son a chance. If you choose to refuse, there's nothing I can do. However, should anything… unfortunate… happen to your son later, the Mu Family will bear no responsibility."

Looking at his helpless father, Long Ao finally understood a fundamental truth. If you didn't want to be bullied, if you didn't want your family to be despised, you had to possess immense strength. This applied not only to him, but to his entire family.

'Strength. In the end, this is all because I lack strength.'

'I will obtain unrivaled power. I'll crush everyone who looks down on me and the Long Family beneath my feet.'

Long Ao repeated this to himself over and over. Gradually, without even realizing it, his mindset was undergoing a profound transformation.

"Your Mu Family is going too far! I want to see the Patriarch."

"HAHAHA, going too far? That's right, so what if our Mu Family is bullying your Long Family? What are you going to do about it?"

Before Long Yi could continue, Long Ao had already stepped forward and said firmly, "I accept. Both of you can come at me together."

With that, Long Ao turned and walked away. Hearing him finally accept the challenge, Mu Che and the others were overjoyed, especially Mu Yihang and Mu Yihao. Without a moment's hesitation, everyone filed out after him, including the two who were set to fight, Mu Feng and Mu Yong.

「Outside the Mu Family's main hall.」

In the vast, empty courtyard stood only three people: Long Ao, facing Mu Yong and Mu Feng. Both sides appeared to be making their preparations.

The courtyard was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Whether the Mu Family had arranged it intentionally or not, nearly every disciple and servant was present. They all looked on as if watching a farce, their faces etched with contempt and mockery.

'The Long Family's good-for-nothing wants to fight two at once?'

'Is that even possible? How could it be?'

Mu Feng sneered, wagging his right index finger. "Trash will always be trash. In a moment, I'll show you a trash's proper place. But I'll give you a chance. You're permitted to use a weapon. Don't worry, the two of us will be bare-handed. We won't use any weapons."

Sheer contempt. Mu Feng and Mu Yong made no mention of how shameless it was for them to team up, choosing instead to simply look down on their opponent. But this was the Mu Family's territory. No one would mock them; they would only aim their scorn and ridicule at Long Ao.

"I don't need a weapon. If I accidentally kill you, then the Mu Family will be short two shameless scoundrels."

"HAHAHA!" Unrestrained laughter erupted from the crowd, as if they had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"Long Ao, there's no need to act so conceited. If you can actually kill us with a weapon, we will die without complaint. Even the Mu Family won't seek revenge against you or the Long Family. The only condition is that you can actually pull it off."

"The Mu Family really won't seek revenge?"

"They will not. On behalf of the Mu Family, I formally announce that regardless of the outcome of this battle—life or death—neither the Mu Family nor the Long Family will hold the other accountable. Revenge is forbidden. Should either family violate this agreement, they will face complete annihilation," Mu Tian declared, his cold voice echoing throughout the entire Mu Family estate.